Combination radio receiver and coin savings bank



Feb 7, 195G A. v. CURRY 2,495,62Q

CQMBINATION RADIO RECEIVER AND COIN SAVINGS BANK Fil ed Sept. 2, l947 2 Sheets-Sheet l l ATTORNEYS Feb 7, 195 v. QURRY 2,496,2O

COMBINATION RADIO RECEIVER AND COIN SAVINGS BANK Filed Sept. 2, I947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR CUR RY ATTORNEYS Patented F eb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION RADIO RECEIVER AND COIN SAVINGS BANK Claims.

This invention relates to a combination radio and coin savings bank, and similar devices distributed by banks and commercial concerns and insurance companies for the purpose of encouraging thrift and the promotion of a savings campaign to be carried out in the home. The invention has distinct advantages over other devices as follows:

One of the objects of the device is to permit it to be readily attached to a radio cabinet and to compel the insertion of a coin of suitable denomination before the radio can be turned on. Although the device compels the depositing of a cain before the radio can be tuned in, it will permit the continuous use of the radio for any time period desired. It is only when the radio is turned off that a second coin will be required to be inserted before the radio can again be turned on.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction and constructed of durable material. The fewest possible number of parts are used and this makes the device inexpensive to manufacture. Moreover, because of the simplicity of the device, it will not readily get out of order. The device can be attached to radios without altering their design or operation.

The invention is ideal for use in the home where the accumulation of coin savings from children is desired. The device does away with the necessity of providing savings banks of more complex design and having a greater number of parts. Smaller sized coins than the one necessary to make the device operate may be retained by the device after once inserted into the coin chute and will not interfere with the subsequent insertion of the right sized coin. The size of the coin slot itself determines how large a coin can be used.

All timing or clock controlled devices are ellminated and the circuit remains closed solely at the option of the operator after once the coin has been inserted. Only two moving parts are used, one being a stop for the coin and the other being a switch arm which is swung into closed position by the insertion of a coin.

The device makes use of a coin box for receiving the coins, this box being removable from the device at will. If desired the contents of the box may be kept sealed even after the box is removed, the seal being broken by an authorized person, such as a bank teller who will then count the coins in the box and enter the amount in a pass book. After this is done, the coin box may again be closed and sealed and then reinserteu in the device preparatory to receiving additional coins.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a radio cabinet with my device operatively applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the operative mechanism, the device being shown apart from the radio for the purpose of clarity;

Figure 3 is an isometric and diagrammatic view of the operating parts shown on a larger scale;

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the coin receiving box.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a radio indicated generally at A in Figure 1. The radio may be of any type desired and I have illustrated a portable model. The radio cabinet is indicated at I and the volume control knob and the station selecting knob are indicated at 2 and 3, respectively. The volume control knob also actuates the radio on-off switch, shown schematically at 4 in Figure 3. A shaft 5 interconnects the switch 4 with the knob 2 and the casing housing the switch 4 may also contain a rheostat 6 shown schematically in the wiring diagram of Figure 4. The parts thus far described are of standard construction and form no part of my invention except insofar as they cooperate with the parts now to be described.

The device in its essential parts comprises a coin stop B, a coin-controlled electric switch C, and a coin-receiving box D. The first two are illustrated on an enlarged scale in Figure 3 and the box is shown in Figure 5, also on an enlarged scale. The manner of supporting the stop B comprises a shaft 1 on which the stop is rotatably mounted and the shaft in turn is carried by a bracket 8 which is secured to a partition 9, see Figure 2. The partition is disposed in a removable casing E which in turn is secured to the back of the radio cabinet I. Any means may be used for securing the casing to the cabinet and 1'.

have shown the side walls ill of the former provided with perforated straps ii that receive screws 12, see Figure 1, that enter the openings [3, see Figure 2, in the straps for fastening them to the radio cabinet.

A coin chute i4 leads from one of the side walls ID of the casing E to a position adjacent to the stop B. The chute is supported by the partition 9. A weight i6 is suspended from the stop and tends to hold the stop in a position where the coin F will be trapped at the exit end H of the chute, see Figure 3. The coin-controlled switch C has an arm [8 that lies in the path of the coin and the free end of the arm has a portion l8a that is placed between the coin chute exit end I! and the stop B. The coin F will contact with the arm end iiSa to swing the arm into a position for closing the switch C and so long as the stop prevents further coin movement, the switch will remain closed.

Figure 4 shows the switch C in series with the radio switch 4 and both switches need to be closed before the radio is electrically connected ,to a source of current represented by the two lead-in wires [9. I provide novel means for freeing the coin F and permitting it to drop into the coin box D through a coin-receiving opening 20 in the top of the box, see Figure 5. One purpose of the invention is to permit the radio set to be played as long as desired when it is once turned on and a coin is deposited in the entrance slot 2! of the coin chute. To accomplish this I connect the stop B to the shaft of the volume control knob 2 by means of a flexible connector 22 and a spool 23. secured to the stop and its other end received in a groove 24 and secured to the spool by a screw 25. One or more guide eyelets 26 for the cord or connector is used and may be secured to the radio chassis, not shown, for guiding the cord from the stop to the spool.

The shaft 5 is rotated counter-clockwise by the knob 2 when opening the switch 4 for turning oil" the radio. This rotation will take up the slack in the cord 22 and wind it in the spool groove 24 with the result that the cord will pull the stop 13 out of the path taken by the coin F as it leaves the chute 44. Any coin dropped in the coin chute l4 when the radio is turned off will momentarily close the switch C as the coin leaves the chute, but the radio set will not operate because the on-off switch Q is not closed. The coin will drop through a coin slot 2i in a horizontal partition 28 that is carried by the casing E and is placed at the bottom of the partition 9.

Figure 2 illustrates how the partition 28 cooperates with the casing walls to provide a coin box receiving compartment G disposed at the bottom of the casing. The compartment has a guide rail 29 for the coin box D and an opening 30 in the wall it through which the box may be withdrawn from the casing. The box has a perforated lug 33, see Figure 5, that registers with a similar lug 3?. on the end wall ill when the box is in the full line position shown in Figures 1 and 2. A small padlock H can be passed through the aligned openings in the lugs 3| and 32 for securing the box D against removal.

The inner end of the box D constitutes a cover 33 that is hinged at 34, see Figure 5, and has segmental sleeves 35 that are aligned with segmental sleeves 36, carried by the box, when the cover is closed. A wire 31 is passed through the aligned segmental sleeves and the ends are connected by a seal 38. r.

The connector 22 has one end From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The sealed coin box is moved into the compartment G and is secured in place by the padlock H, The coin box is preferably not as long as the compartment in order to provide space for the wire 3! and seal 38. When the knob 2 is in off position, the stop B is held out of the path of any coin dropped in the chute and therefore such coin will pass directly into the box by means of the aligned slots 20 and 21 in the box D and partition 28, respectively, see Figure 2.

To turn the radio on it is first necessary to rotate the knob 2 clockwise to move the switch 4 into on position as indicated in Figure 3. This will slacken the cord 22 and permit the weight IE to swing the stop B into a position to stop the next coin of the right denomination that is placed in the coin chute. If for example, a nickel is required to operate the radio set and a dime or a penny is placed in the chute, either one will pass into the coin box because they will be too small in diameter for the stop to retain them at the exit end of the chute.

The right sized coin, such as the nickel, in the above example, will come to rest at the end of the chute as shown in Figure 3 and will close the switch C and rest against the stop B. Since the switch C is in series with the switch 4, the closing of the former by the coin will complete the circuit between the radio set and the source of current and the radio can be operated in the usual way. The set will stay on so long as the knob 2 is not turned to off position. As soon as this takes place, the cord 22 will remove the stop from the coin and permit it to drop into. the box. The switch C will be opened and another coin will have to be inserted before the radio can again be operated.

If the coin box is to be taken to a bank for depositing the coins in a savings account, the padlock can be opened and the sealed box removed and taken to the bank. The bank teller can break the seal, open the box and enter the amount of the contents in a pass book. Another wire and seal may be applied for again sealing the cover in closed position. Commercial concerns and insurance companies could use a device of this type. No timing or clock mechanism is necessary. The radio circuit is kept closed by the coin until the set is manually turned off.

It is possible to have the radio set circuit close when coins of a larger diameter than a nickel are placed in the coin chute. For example, the coin chute can be large enough to receive quarters or even fifty-cent pieces and the insertion of coins of these larger denominations will close the circuit and permit the radio to be turned on.

I claim:

1. The combination with a radio having a switch which turns on the radio by the rotation of a shaft in a predetermined direction of a coin-controlled auxiliary switch in series with the first switch and having an arm adapted to be swung into switch-closing position by a coin, coin conveying means for guiding a coin against the arm, a stop for holding the coin in a position to maintain the arm in closed position, and means interconnecting the stop and the shaft and actuated when the shaft is rotated for turning oil the first switch, the actuation of said means moving the stop to free the coin, whereby the arm will open the second switch when the arm is freed by the coin.

2. In combination, a switch having an operating member, a second switch in series with the first and including a switch-closing arm, means for guiding a coin against the arm for closing the second switch, a coin stop normally lying in the path of the coin for holding the coin in a position for maintaining the second switch closed, and means interconnecting the operating member of the first switch and the stop for moving the stop out of the path of the coin when the operating member opens the first switch, whereby the coin will be freed from the second switch arm and permit the second switch to open.

3. In combination, a switch having an operating member, a second switch in series with the first and including a switch-closing arm, means for guiding a coin against the arm for closing the second switch, a coin stop normally lying in the path of the coin for holding the coin in a position for maintaining the second switch closed, and means interconnecting the operating member of the first switch and the stop for moving the stop out of the path of the coin when the operating member opens the first switch, whereby the coin will be freed from the second switch arm and permit the second switch to open, and a sealed coin box having a slot for receiving the coin freed by the stop.

4. The combination with a radio having a switch for turning on the radio and a volume control, a shaft having a knob which when rotated in one direction will close the switch and a further rotation in the same direction will increase the volume, of an inclined coin chute for conveying coins therealong by gravity, a pivoted weighted stop placed near the exit end of the chute for contacting a coin and preventing it from entirely leaving the chute, a second switch having an arm placed in the path of the coin as it emerges from the chute, the position of the arm being such that the second switch is closed when the coin contacts the arm and is held against being freed from the chute by contacting ill the stop, a spool carried by the shaft, a cord having one end connected to the spool and the other end connected to the stop, the cord being wound on the spool when the shaft is rotated for opening the first switch, the winding of the cord on the spool causing the cord to swing the stop into a position to free the coin, whereby the coin will drop clear of the chute.

5. The combination with a radio having a switch for turning on the radio and a volume control, a shaft having a knob which when rotated in one direction will close the switch and a further rotation in the same direction will increase the volume, of an inclined coin chute for conveying coins therealong by gravity, a pivoted weighted stop placed near the exit end of the chute for contacting a coin and preventing it from entirely leaving the chute, a second switch having an arm placed in. the path of the coin as it emerges from the chute, the position of the arm being such that the second switch is closed when the coin contacts the arm and is held against being freed from the chute by contacting the stop, a spool carried by the shaft, a cord having one end connected to the spool and the other end connected to the stop, the cord being wound on the spool when the shaft is rotated for opening the first switch, the winding of the cord on the spool causing the cord to swing the stop into a position to free the coin, whereby the coin will drop clear of the chute and a sealed coin box having a slot for receiving the coin freed by the stop.

ARTHUR V. CURRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,846,611 Riegel Feb. 23, 1932 2,371,114 Von Stoeser Mar. 6, 1945 

